The government approved on Wednesday a mechanism that would allow Lebanese expatriates to vote in the 2013 parliamentary elections and approved a reduction in the weight of the Arabic bread pack to appease bakeries.

The government is scheduled to hold a meeting at the Grand Serail next Wednesday to discuss the details of the mechanism and ways to implement it, Information Minister Walid al-Daouq told reporters after the session held at the presidential palace.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati is scheduled to travel to Brussels on Wednesday after holding a cabinet session at the Baabda Palace, headed by Presidents Michel Suleiman, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

The premier is expected to hold talks with his Belgian counterpart Elio Di Rupo and a number of high-ranking officials, including some from the European Commission.

President Michel Suleiman is scheduled to hold talks with Premier Najib Miqati and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel on Saturday to discuss the electoral draft-law a year before the parliamentary polls.

The meeting was set for Saturday after Charbel asked the cabinet during its latest session to set its stance on the draft-law proposed by him and avoid procrastination, An Nahar daily said.

March 14 youth organizations strongly condemned on Wednesday the Antonine Fathers University incident in which students performed Muslim prayers against the wishes of the university administration that did not comply with their request to dedicate a prayer room for their needs.

The organizations called on all secondary schools, universities, and academic institutions to suspend classes on Thursday between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. in protest against Tuesday’s incident.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated that the proposals on government spending made at cabinet on Friday are not final suggestions on the matter, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

He told the daily: “Efforts are underway to reach a final formula that includes all sides’ views on the matter.”

The government condemned on Friday the abuse of an Ethiopian domestic worker and called for an investigation to refer the culprits to justice, Information Minister Walid al-Daouq announced.

“The cabinet denounced the violence against the Ethiopian maid in public and called for a probe to refer the suspects to the competent judiciary to take the necessary legal measures against them,” al-Daouq said following a session held at Baabda Palace.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Monday during a cabinet session that constructive dialogue is the only solution to resolve problems as Prime Minister Najib Miqati called for a productive government.

The cabinet reconvened for the first time in almost four weeks and in the presence of newly appointed Labor Minister Salim Jreissati.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun announced on Friday that newly-appointed Labor Minister Salim Jreissati had become the newest members of the Change and Reform bloc, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

Jreissati meanwhile said that a mission to achieve change and reform “can be achieved without creating disputes.”

The cabinet is back on track as Prime Minister Najib Miqati revealed on Friday that it will convene again, considering it a fresh start to rectify relations with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

Miqati told As Safir newspaper that the cabinet will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Monday at the Baabda Palace.

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas stated on Monday that OGERO Telecom General Manager Abdul Monhem Youssef’s days in the Lebanese state are numbered.

He said during the launching of a free internet service at the Sioufi park in Beirut: “He tried to obstruct the functioning of the Telecommunications Ministry, but we succeeded in providing this service in Sioufi park.”